System for deying paper and textiles and the like



Dec. 3, 1929. IRELAND 1,737,926

SYSTEM FOR DRYING PAPER AND TEXTILES AND THE LIKE Fi led Marchl, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Dec. 3, 1929.

T. H. IRELAND 1,737,926

SYSTEM FOR DRYING PAPER AND TEXTILES AND THE LIKE' Fiied March 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented 3, 1929 STATES PAT it! MEYER, NEW YQRK- s a-asses eliminates 2, mac. semi-ire. eases,

This invention relates to a system for drying paper, textiles and the like and mere particularl to a steam and condensation system adapts for arrangement in connection with any desired heating or drying unit for almost any desired use.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a system for the continuous circulation of steam through a series of steam circuits arranged for drying textiles, papers, etc., in such a manner as to radually raise the temperature of the materlal being dried from its point of entry to its point of exit and in such a manner that the material will be" gradually dried at each succeeding station. Another object is to provide a system of the character described wherein a rapid and continuous circulation of steam is maintained through a series of drying units while maintaining a constant or substantially constant temperature at each unit and a constant differential temperature .between succeeding units.

Still another object is to provide a system wherein the steam or other condensible vapor is continuously circulated through a series of drying units or the like and whereby the con densate and accumulated air may be quickly and effectively removed..

A still further object is to provide a system wherein a rapid and continuous circulation of condensible heating medium may be maintained in two or more parallel series of circuits and wherein condensation of the vapor and accumulated air will be quickly and continuously removed.

Further objects include the provision of a system adapted to utilize steam or other high temperature condensible vapor exhausted from other apparatus or from a high pressure turbine or boiler or from both such sources as desired, the provision of an efl'ective and simplesystem-of high efiiciency, the provision of a system which is automatic in its 0 eration, and the provision of many other a vantages, and novelties of construction and operation which should become apparent from the description and claims and from the drawings in which: Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic top plan that non-condensible gases, i. e., air,

and side elevational views of a system of drying units arranged in accordce with one form or? my invention, and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of one arrangement of condensing apparatus suitable for connection with the drying units shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The invention has been illustrated in connection with the usual (1 ing cylinders or rolls of a paper or texti e machine dryer wherein several series or banks of rolls or cylinders are provided and over which the textile material or paper is carried in order to dry it. Usually the sheets of paper or textile material are entered at what is known as the .Wet end 'of the dryer, which is maintained at a lo w tem erature, and carried over and between-rol s of .s uccessively higher temperatures to the opposite end of the series known as the dry end, where it;. is removed and disposed of as desired; The number; of rolls required for each .fseri'es and the number of series are dependentv upon such factors as thickness of material, amount of moisture carried and the speed of travel, the tem eratures maintained, etc., and it may be esirable, as is well known, to have the temperature gradient gradually increase from the wet to the dry end.

In apparatus of this character heretofore known and utilized, the temperatures maintained in the various cylinders have never been controlled in any definite manner and have been allowed to fluctuate evenunder,

successive rolls inorder that the material to be dried would be gradually heated'to dry gradually and thoroughly.

paratus has been quite limited, largely no to Furthermore, the capacity of dryin apthe inefliciencies above noted, and a. greater number of drying rolls or cylinders required than would be necessary in a system maintainin constant temperatures or constant differentlal temperatures throughout the several units of each series. It also often ha pened came 13, 14 and 15 respectively,to a common steam supply manifold 16 which may be conne'cted through a pipe 17 to a turbine or steam engine exhaust or to'any other soprce of steam or high temperature condensible 15 vapor supply and may be connectedto several sources if desired. The rolls of both, series are of any preferred construction and may be arranged in any suitable manner,

as will be readily understood, and since 20 their construction forms no part of the present invention they' have not been shown except diagrammatically and ,Will not be. further described except to say that they are adapted to receive steam under relatively high pressure within their apparatus of this character operate with interiors and are usually adapted to be rotatively driven by mechanism not'shown. The paper or other textile material is entered on the rolls at the wet end, which for the purpose of illustration may'bedesignated as the right end'ofFigs. 1 and 2 and carried successively and alternately over and under top and bottom rolls, or over and under alter- \nate rolls of each series to the dry end at asthe left, where it is removed for disposal as desired,

The rolls of each series are connected in series by pipes 18, 19,20, and 21 and 22, 23, 24 and '25 respectively, so that each roll of each series will receive steam which has passed through its preceding roll. The exhaust parts of the rolls at the wet end of each series are connected by means of pipes 26 and 27 respectively, for the passage of exhaust steam to an exhaust or condensation manifold 28 to which pipes 29, 29', 30, 30', 31', 31', 32 and 32 are also connected'for removal of condensation from the piping connecting the several rolls of each series, as

5 will later appear more clearly. The condensation return line or manifold 28 is also connected through a suitable line including valves 33, 33', combination thermostat andfloat traps 34 and sediment separators 35. to v 65 the bottom of one end of the steam manifold 16 at the wet end as shown, or at the dry end, or at anylow point in the line, as desired, for .the'removal of any condensation accumulating therein, and the pipes 29 to 32' inclusive are each adapted 'to drain condensation from the several exhaust steam lines connecting-the rolls of each series and the steam supply lines 11 to 15 inclusive connecting the manifold or header 16 withthe several rolls through valves 36 and 37 in each drain mamas line, a sediment separator or strainer 38 and conditions of practice. For the valves 34 I prefer a small size of trap valve and for the valves 39 a large size of trap valve, although varying capacities and conditions may dic-.

tate otherspecifications. Each exhaust line from one roll to the next is connected through a check valve 40, to a steam inlet connection 41 common also to the independent steam supply lines 12 to 15 of the various rolls for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The initial rolls 1 and 6, of course, need not have the drain connections as are shown for the succeeding rolls sincethey receive high pressure steam and no great amount of 'condensation will take place.

It is sometimes desirable to have drying greater than atmospheric pressure on the wet end driers and for this purpose the exhaust through by-pa'sses. 46 in which valves 47 are located, the exhaust from the wet end cylinders may he opened directly to the condensation. header 28 to allow a drop' impres sure in the end cylinders or over. all the cylinders of one or both series; To accomplish this purpose the valves/7 will be regulated.

For the purpose of determining steam pres-- sures and testing the relative differential pressures between inlets and'outlets of each drier, etc., suitable steam gauge connections such as are indicated-at 48 maybe provided.

-With my arrangement, it will of course, be

readily possible toconnect two steam gauges inthe lines entering and. leaving each cylinder to note the differentialpressures, or one cpmpound steam gauge may be connected across the line and used for the purpose.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that steam entering. the manifold or header 16- from any source will be supplied through pipes 11 and 11 to the end cylinders or rolls or units 1 and 6 at the dry ends of their respectlve serles and will pass successively through each cylinder of the respective series to the last cylinder at the wet end from whence itwill be discharged into the exhaust or condensation manifold 28. During this tune condensation will, beremoved from each cylinder, roll or unit and from the connecting lines 18 to 25 inclusive through the strainers 38, trap valves 39 and lines 29 to 32' inelusive.

In order that the rolls may be maintained at consecutively lower temperatures from the dry end to the wet end, the exhaust steam from each cylinder is utilized in the succeedmg cylinders, and in order that the steam supplied to each succeeding cylinder may be kept constant to maintain the tem rature, each cylinder, roll-or unit, except til initial rolls or units 1 and 6, is provided with what I may term a differential valve 49 which may be of any suitable type, but preferably adjustable, arranged to admit additional steam to the steam inlet connection from the manifold it through the individual or independent connections 12, 12, 13, .13, 14, 14', 15 and 15, should the steam sup lied such cylinder from its next preceding cy inder tall below a predetermined (pientity or quality. Thus each dierential valve controls the steam admitted to its respective cylinder irom the independent steam supply of such cylinder and, in order to control the proper difler ential pressures between succeeding cylinder,

pipes 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 and 5'? connect the pressure regulating mechanism of the differential valves with individual or independent connections ll, ll etc. of the next preceding cylinder or unit. The pressure of the steam in the several units or" each series may be controlled in numerous ways with proper connections between the units or by different adjustments of the difi'erential valves and resort may be had to various other means for equivalent control. As these dif- Eerential valves are old, well known and form, per se, no part of my invention, they are not further described herein.

lit will, of course, be apparent that should there be not surlicient steam flowing from one cylinder to another through the series oi exhaust connections to heat the cylinde r to a predetermined temperature, an addit onal quantity will be admitted through the independent connections l2, l2, l3, lit, etc, until the temperature or pressure des red in such unit has been reached. The check valves 40 will prevent steam entering from the connections 12, 12', etc, from passing back into the exhaust line from the preceding unit. The valves 49 may, as has been stated, he of any suitable type operable by pressure or by the thermal coefiicients of the various units,

- although they are preferably adjustable in order that successive difierential valves from the dry to the wet ends maybe set to open at successively lower difierential pressures or temperatures between the steam entering through the series' exhaust connections and the independent or individual unit steam supply connections for the maintenance of a predetermined temperature within each and over all the respective units. I

Dry steam, whether saturated or supertion 63, as willbe more particularly describedhereinafter, in order to createa difierential pressure between such exhaust line and the steam manifold 16. The valves 34 will remain open until condensation and non-condensible gases contained in the manifold and piping connected thereto have been exhausted or until steam begins to pass them. At this.

point they are so constructed and arranged that they will close and prevent passage of steam, opening from time to time as water and air of a less temperature than steam accumulate, The steam entering the dry end cylinders will pass through such cylinders and through the respective exhaust lines to the next succeeding cylinders through the check valves 40 and connections 41, thence through the cylinders and out the succeeding exhaust lines to the'next succeeding cylinders, etc. Condensation in the exhaust lines or in the steam as it passes from one cylinder to another will be trapped in the pipe adjacent the next succeeding cylinder, will pass through the sediment separator or strainer 38 into the valve designated 39 and thence to the exhaust manifold 28. The traps 39 will, of course, operate in the same manner as traps 34, for they will close immediately upon the entrance of steam therein. A connection may be made between a lower bottom portion of the end walls of the cylinders (which are usually rotary) to the strainers or separators 38 for the removal of condensation from the interior of the cylinders if desired.

Assuming that it is desired to maintain a pressure ratio in arithmetic progression from the dry to the wet end in each series of cylinders, i. e., a ratio of 6 5#, 4#, 311:, 2:];5, any pressure regulator in the linelfi may be set for the initial pressure to enter thedry end cylinders. Exhaust steam passing from thedry end will tend to maintain a substantially lower pressure and temperature within succeeding cylinders, but, should the exhaust steam from any preceding cylinder be insuflicient to maintain the pressure and temperature desired within the succeeding cylinder or cylinders as determined by the setting of the diderential valves 49, the valves are so arranged and constructed that they will operate to admit steam through the independent or individual connections 12, 12', 13, 13, 14, 14, 15-and 15 (as necessary) until the desired temperature or pressure for which they have been set has been attained. The

' condensate.

any degree to var \globe valve on each by-pass.'

As hereinbefore noted, any suitable condensation system may be used in connection with the drying roll system as desired, although I prefer the system shown in Fig. 3, now to be described.

The condensation line 63 is connected through a T 64 to the top of a condenser tank 65, preferably made of black steel and adapted to stand a gauge working of 100 pounds according to the A. M. E. code. This tank has two openin s in the top of the shell, one providing an in ct from' the T connection 64, the other providing an outlet or vent 66. A manhole and cover 67 may be provided at one end for cleaning the tank, as is usual in the art, and provision is also made for an inlet at 68 also in the end of the tank and two outlets in the bottom of the tank, one a drain 69 and the other an outlet 70 for the removal of the accumulated Each outlet is suitably coupled to the shell of the tank, as will be understood.

' The opposite run side of the T 64 is connected to a second T 71 connected at its oposite opening to a condenser feed spray line 2 having a by-pass 73, hand valves 74,76, 77, and a ressure regulatin valve 78. While the si e outlet of the 71 is connected through a hand valve 79 and check valve 80 in a bypass line 81 to a steam line 82.

A tilt valve trap 83 such as that described in the patent to Oswald, 1,251,092 of December 25, 1917, or that to Burke, 1,242,917 of October 16, 1917, 'is suitably arranged to pump the water from the tank 65 through the outlet 70 and lines 84 and 85 to a feed water heater hotwell or the like. This tilt valve trap will not be described since it is amply described in the aforementioned patents. The steam for operating the valve trap is supplied through line 86 and the exhaust steam from the valvetrap passes through line 87 to lines 82 and 88; from line 82 the greater amount of steam will pass through the line 89, through the inlet 68 to an internal vent 91 for condensation thereof, while a small amount of steam under the pressure of the line 87 will be carried through line 88 connected to the'pressure regulating valve 78 for control of the condensing water supply entering through the pipe 75.

gressure The coupling in the end ofthe tank convent condensation means as the steam vented from the tilt valve trap will force the water accumulated ahead of the vent 91 out of the end of the tank and thereby draw in water through the holes behind it.

The tilt three valve trap 83 is of suitable size dependent upon the conditions for which it is required and should be mounted at least one foot above the floor, while the yoke of the trap should be not less than two feet below the bottom of the shell of the tank. The vent line 87 is preferably provided with an auxiliary vent line connection '96 and provided with a hand .valve '97 adapted to be utilized for venting the steam from the tilt valve when the vacuum pump to' be hereinafter described is not operating. Hand and checkvalves 98 and 99 respectively are placed in the line 87 for this purpose. A sediment trap 100 and a sediment blow-off valve 101 are provided in the line 84 and suitable other valves are connected in the various lines for obvious purposes.

A vacuum pump 102 is connected through lines 103, 104, 106, valve 107 and outlet oonnection 66 to the top of the tank in order to maintain a pressure within said tank below atmosphere and to maintain a differential pressure between the steam conduit 16 and the condensation manifold 28. A water'supply line 108 having a by-pass 109 is connected as at. 110 to the intake 103 of the vacuum pump in order to form a seal for the pumping mechanisms as is-usual, and is reg ulated through a regulating valve 111 operated by the pressure in line 104 for the purpose of which it is connected through the line 112 thereto. The discharge end of the vacuum pump is connected to awater discharge line 113 and man vent 1 14.,

In operation the tilt valve trap ,will receive water from thetank 65 and discharge it to the hotwell feed water heater or boiler or the likebymeansofthelivesteamsuppliedthereto through the pipe 86. When the trap returns to its falling position the steam utilized therein will be vented to the line 87, will cause the regulating valve toopen and supply condensing water from the line 75 forcondensing the steam discharge through the bypass 81 when opened and an steam flowing from the line 63. Most of t e steam vented Ian from the tilt trap will be condensed in'thc internal vent pipe 92. The heat of condensation will be conserved and the tank maintained under pressure at or less than atmospheric pressure by means of the vacuum pump which will not receive any of the condensation so that-a constant differential pressure is maintained between the various units of the drying rolls and the condensation system. This arrangement will attain a principal object ofthe invention, viz, to induce a rapid and continuous circulation of steam in one or more series of steam circuits with a complete so aration or" condensationv he air and condensation from the steam. are quickly discharged into the tank and a substantially constant difierential pressure is maintained. The system is at once simple varying temperatures may be connected in series or in parallel series within the broader aspects of my invention, and for this reason I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction or arran ement but only b the spirit oi the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: 1. in combination, a series of drying chambers in number greater than two, a

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source of high temperature high pressure vapor supply connected to each of said chambers, direct vapor ltlow connections between a plurality of said chambers, means for maintaming a constant diderential pressure between successive chambers of said series, and

means for removingcondensed vapors fromsaid chambers. I

2. in combination, a series of drying chambers in number greater than two, a source of high temperature high pressure vapor supply connected to said chambers, direct vapor flow cessive elements in decreasing ratio from one end of said series to the other.

t. In combination, a series of heat con'-.

ducting elements, a common heat source, and means including direct exhaust connectlonsv a predetermined and constant temperature difierential between successive elements in decreasing ratio from to the other. I

5. In a drying system in combination, a series of material drying cylinders in number greater than two, means for supplying heat to each of said cylinders in succession from the outlet of one to the inlet of the next, and means for supplying heat to each of said cylinders individually.

6. In a drying system in combination, a series of material drying cylinders in number greater than two, means for supplying a heated medium from one to another of each of said cylinders in consecutive succession, means for supplying a heated medium to each of said cylinders individually, and means de endent upon a characteristic of the medium from one of said supply means for vafi-ying the supply of medium from the ot er.

one end of said series '3"; In a drying system in combination, a

ance with a characteristic of the heating medium supplied by the other supply means.

8. In a drying system in combination, a series of hollow cylinders greater than three adapted to receive steam, and means including an exhaust connection from each cylinder to its adjacent cylinder in the same order for maintaining a substantially constant difierential temperature between consecutive cylinders. p

9. lln a drying system in combination, consecutively arranged drying cylinders to be steam heated, a steam supply manifold, steam connections from said manifold to each of said cylinders, means to exhaust steam from each greceding cylinder to each succeeding cylin er, means for maintaining a predetermined temperature in each of said cylinders,

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and means for removing condensation from each exhaust means.

10. In adrying system in combination, a plurality of consecutively arranged drying units adapted to be steam heated, a steam supply manifold common to all of said units, means for redetermining the pressure of steam supplied to said manifold, independent connections from said manifold to each of said units, connections from each of said units to the next succeeding unit to supply exhaust steam. therefrom to the next succeeding unit, and regulating means in consupplied thereto t nection with each unit, except an end unit, for controlling the amount of steam supplied thereto through its independent con-- to each of said units, connections from each of said units to the next succeeding unit for supplyin exhaust steam from the preceding umt to tile succeeding unit, and means in connection with each unit except an end unit for 'controllin the volume of steam Erough its independent connection in accordance with the temperature characteristic of the succeeding unlt. 12. In a drying system in combination, a

plurality of consecutively arranged drying cylinders adapted to be steam heated, a steam supply manifold common to all of said cylinders, independent connections from said manifold to each of said units, connections from each of said cylinders to the next succeeding cylinder for supplying exhaust steam from the preceding unit to the succeeding cylinder, and means for removing condensation from each of said units except said end unit.

13. In a drying system in combination, a series of steam heated drying roll units, including a high pressure unit, a low pressure unit and intermediate pressure units, a source of high pressure steam,a direct connection from said source to said high pressure unit, connections for passage of exhaust steam from successivelyhigher to successively lower ressure units, and auxiliary connections units below said high pressure unit, and means for controlling the steam supplied by each of said auxiliary connections.

14. In a drying system in combination, a series of steam heated drying roll units, in-

cluding a high pressure unit, a lowpressure f unit and intermediate pressure units, a source of high pressure steam, a direct connection from said source to said high pressure unit, connections for passage of exhaust steam from successively higher to successively lower ressure units, and auxiliary connections Idiom said source to each of theunits below said high pressure unit, and means for automatically controlling the steam supplied by each of the auxiliary connections to their respective units in predetermined quantities.

15. In a drying system in combination, a series of steam heated drying units includeluding a high pressure unit, a low pressure unit and intermediate pressure units, a source of'high ressure steam, a direct connection from'sai source to said high pressure unit,

0m said source to each of the mama connections. for assage of exhaust steam from successively igher to successively lower plressure units, and auxiliary connections om said source to each of the units below said high pressure unit, and means for controlling thesteam supplied by each auxiliary connection in accordance with the characteristic of the steam exhausted to the unit to which it is connected, from the preceding unit. a

1 6. In a drying system in combination, a serles of steam heated drying units including a high, a low and an intermediate pressure unit, a manifold common to a plurality of said units, a source of steam supply connected to said manifold, independent con nections from said manifold to each of said units, series connections between each of said units for the assage of exhaust steam from successively igher to successively lower pressure units, means for automatically regulating the steam supplied to each unit below said high pressure unit in accordance with a predetermined characteristic in proportion to the temperature of such unit, and means for removing condensate from intermediate and low pressure units.

17. In combination, a lurality of series of drying rolls including igh, intermediate and low temperature rolls in each series, means for supplying a high temperature condensiblevapor to-each of said rolls in each series, means connecting the rolls of. each series in series for supplying exhaust vapor from successively higher to successivelylower temperature rolls, and means for maintaining a predetermined and constant temperature in each roll of each series below said high pressure rolls.

18. In combination, a plurality of series of drying rolls including high, intermediate and lowtemperature rolls in each series, means for supplying a high temperature condensible vapor to each of said rolls in each series, means connecting the rolls of each series in series for supplying exhaust vapor om successively higher to successively lower temperature rolls, and means for maintaining a predetermineddifierential temperature constant between adjacent rolls oi each series.

19. In a drying system in combination, a plurality of consecutively arranged drying cylinders adapted to be steam heated, said cylinders being in number greater than two, a steam supply manifold common to all of said cylinders, independent connections from said manifold to each of said cylinders, an exhaust connection from each cylinder to the steam inlet of the next succeeding cylinder, a steam trap connected with each cylinder except an end cylinder for removing condensate from the cylinder to'which it is connected, and regulating means in connection with each mamm cyiiifier except an and cylimie'r, for cummiimg the volume) of steam supphed thereto thrfough sm man its independent cennection firom Howl m accurdance wlth 1 5s tamperature chameerisfiic.

in WH'JHESS OI the foregamg i suffix my sigmatum.

THGMAS h. ERELAND 

